Hello I have been taking ballroom dance lessons (International standard & Latin)for 2 1/2 years. I will target to compete(for progress. I am also planning to take at least 1 private lessons(in both latin and standard) with my instructors to improve style and technique. In the meantime, I found the allocating the times to practice both latin and standard. I have full time job during the day. I have flexible evening hours but I found hard to practice using the time available. I appreciate the discpline in dancing. I would appreciate anyone can have some advice on this. I don't mind not having a partner right now. I believe I have to have strong foundations first before I found a suitable partner. In addition, I am a follower.

Thanks

When it comes to practicing, I have to practice my lead and follow and sometimes... first off, practice isn't just going to happen. Even if you're not feeling like it, you gotta motivate yourself and practice even if you don't feel like it.
As for not having much time and having to space our your time. My first suggestion is if you're only going to take one private hour a week then ask your instructor to work on two dances in the hour.... one smooth and one latin, or one latin and one whatever. That way you get the most our of your time. What I usually do with a student is I'll do a smooth dance for 25 minutes, a rhythm/latin dance for 25 minutes and then spend 10 minutes focusing on technicique and/or body connection skills.
During the day however when you're at work or whatever... try doing your dance steps wherever you're going. This may sound silly and you may feel silly doing it in your work place but when you don't have time, do your dance steps to travel from spot to the other. And while you're sitting down, have some music playing and just do the steps with your feet under the table/desk/whatever. That's what I do to maximimize my time and it does work. Give it a shot!
~LB

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